Surgical Traction System

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a surgical traction system with a hand gripped tension adjustment device that slidably mounts onto a boom structure. When activated the tension adjustment device moves down the boom structure and incrementally adjusts the tension in a traction rope. The boom structure attaches to a bracket assembly that mounts onto the short end of a surgical table.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the medical field, and morespecifically to an apparatus and method for traction positioning forarthroscopic surgery and other joint distraction procedures.

2. Background of Related Art

Arthroscopy is an orthopaedic surgical procedure on joints in whichexamination and treatment is performed using an endoscope that isinserted through a small incision. Arthroscopy is frequently used forthe knee, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, foot, and hip.

Arthroscopy and other joint distraction procedures are commonlyperformed using a traction boom device. These devices typically use arope and pulley system that connects to a surgery patient and pulls onand positions the patient in a manner that allows proper examination andtreatment of the affected area of the body. Existing traction boomdevices require weights or sandbags to position surgery patients, whichhave several limitations and issues. For example, using traction deviceweights necessitates spending time, space, and other resources locatingand storing the weights. At times, nurses and other support staff mustleave the operating room in the middle of a procedure to locate moreweights. The weights can be heavy and must be lifted in order to connectthem onto the traction boom device, thereby risking injury to nurses andsupport staff. The use of weights with traction boom devices also makeit difficult to control and measure the amount of tension applied to thesurgery patient.

Existing traction boom devices attach to the long side of operatingtables, which creates other issues and limitations. For example,placement on the long side of the operating table requires removal andrelocation of the traction boom device to the opposite side of theoperating table during contralateral procedures. The traction boomdevice's location on the long side of the operating table can alsointerfere with safely moving patients between the operating table andthe pre-operative or post-operative gurney, which requires removal ofthe device from the operating table prior to moving the patient onto andoff the operating table.

The present invention improves these problems by using a hand grippedtension adjustment device that incrementally adjusts the tension in atraction rope, without the use of weights or sandbags, giving theoperator better control over the amount of tension applied to thesurgery patient. A tension gauge and display allow for precisemeasurements in the tension. The present invention also attaches to theend of the operating table thereby eliminating the need to detach thetraction boom device during contralateral procedures and prior to movingthe surgery patient onto and off the operating table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a surgical traction system for use inarthroscopic surgery or other joint distraction procedures. Unlike theprior art, the present invention does not require the use of weights andattaches to the short end of an operating table. The surgical tractionsystem has a surgical table, bracket assembly, boom structure, tensionadjustment device, and traction rope. The bracket assembly comprising ofa base arm and two side arms mounts onto a short side wall of thesurgical table. The boom structure comprising of a boom arm and supportleg mounts onto the bracket assembly. A first guide member is connectedto a first end of the boom arm and a second end of the boom arm ishingeably connected to a second guide member with a hinge pin. Thesecond guide member is fixably connected to the support leg. The hingepin allows the boom arm to rotate in a plane that is coplanar orparallel to the longitudinal axis of the support leg. The support legcomprises an upper member and lower member. A first gear assembly ispositioned at the bottom end of the upper member of the support leg.Activation of the first gear assembly rotates the upper member of thesupport leg about its longitudinal axis and relative to the lower memberof the support leg, which adjusts the position of the first end of theboom arm. A base housing mounts to the bottom end of the lower member ofthe support leg and a second gear assembly is housed within the basehousing. Activation of the second gear assembly will vertically move thelower member of the support leg, which adjusts the height of the boomarm.

The tension adjustment device is comprised of a mounting member, firstand second friction plates, springs, a tension adjustment lever, arelease lever, a cam cleat, and a strain gauge system. The mountingmember slidably mounts onto the upper member of the support leg of theboom structure thereby allowing the tension adjustment device to move upand down the support leg. The first friction plate is in frictionalcontact with the support leg. A camming surface is positioned at theupper end of the tension adjustment lever and bears against the firstfriction plate and a spring biases the first friction plate against thecamming surface. When the tension adjustment lever is activated thecamming surface rotates upward and pushes against the first frictionplate causing the first friction plate to increase frictional contactwith the support leg. The increase in frictional contact causes thefirst friction plate to grip the support leg and further rotation of thelever and camming surface causes incremental downward movement of thetension adjustment device on the support leg. The second spring of thetension adjustment device biases the second friction plate against thesupport leg creating frictional contact with the second friction plateand the support leg, which acts to prevent vertical movement of thetension adjustment device along the support leg when the tensionadjustment lever is not activated. When the tension adjustment lever isactivated, the frictional contact between the second friction plate andsupport leg is insufficient to prevent the tension adjustment devicefrom moving vertically down the support leg because the force created bythe frictional contact between the first friction plate and the supportleg overcomes the force created by the frictional contact between thesecond friction plate and the support leg. Activation of the releaselever reduces or eliminates the frictional contact between the secondfriction plate and the support leg allowing the tension adjustmentdevice to unlock and move freely up and down the support leg when thetension adjustment lever is not activated.

The cam cleat mounts to the strain gauge system and is positioned toreceive the traction rope. The strain gauge system is attached to themounting member and consists of a strain gauge, readable display,controller, and power supply. The strain gauge measures the tension inthe traction rope. The first guide member, the second guide member, andthe cam cleat create a pathway for mounting and connecting the tractionrope to the boom structure and tension adjustment device. One end of thetraction rope can be attached to a surgery patient. The other end of thetraction rope can be attached to the cam cleat. Activation of thetension adjustment lever of the first handle moves the tensionadjustment device vertically down the longitudinal axis of the supportleg in small increments thereby increasing tension in the traction rope.The increased tension adjusts the positioning of the surgery patient.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the surgical traction system of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the surgical traction system.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the surgical traction system without thesurgical table.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the boom structure and tension adjustmentdevice of the surgical traction system with the boom arm in the lockedposition.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the boom structure and tension adjustmentdevice of the surgical traction system.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the upper gear system and lower gearsystem of the boom structure.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of the base housing and boom structuremount.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the tension adjustment device mountedonto the support leg of the boom structure.

FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the tension adjustment device.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the tension adjustment device.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the tension adjustment device mountedonto the support leg of the boom structure.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the tension adjustment device with thetension adjustment lever activated.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the tension adjustment device with therelease lever activated.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the bracket assembly system.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the bracket assembly system.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the bracket assembly system.

FIG. 17 is a back view of the bracket assembly system.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the side arm of the bracketassembly system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the surgical traction system 1 comprises asurgical table 10, bracket assembly 20, boom structure 50, tensionadjustment device 100, and traction rope 57.

The surgical table 10 comprises a rectangular top surface 11 and bottomsurface 12, two short side walls 13 and two long side walls 15 extendingbetween the top surface 11 and bottom surface 12, and a top end 16 andbottom end 17. In the preferred embodiment, the surgical table 10 is astandard operating table that is rectangular in shape with the short andlong side walls 13, 15 positioned perpendicular to the top surface 11,but other shapes and arrangements are envisioned. The top surface 11 ofthe surgical table 10 is positioned to receive a surgery patient (notshown). A side rail 18 extends from the long side walls 15 of thesurgical table 10.

As seen in FIGS. 1-3 and 14-18 , the bracket assembly 20 comprises abase arm 22 and two side arms 24. The base arm 22 is an elongated memberwith a length approximately the width of the surgical table includingthe side rails and has an interior surface 31, a top surface 32, anexterior surface 33, a bottom surface 34, a first end 35, and a secondend 36. The top surface 32 of the base arm 22 forms a channel 37 thatruns from the first end 35 to the second end 36. The bottom surface 34of the base arm 22 forms a channel 38 that also runs from the first end35 to the second end 36.

The interior surface 31 is generally flat along its length with recesses26 positioned at each end 35, 36. The exterior surface 33 is generallyflat along its entire length. Two slots 21 are positioned in theexterior surface 33 at each end 35, 36 of the base arm 24 and each slot21 extends from the interior surface 31 to the exterior surface 33. Inthe preferred embodiment, the exterior side surface 33 is smaller inheight than the interior surface 31.

Each side arm 24 is an elongated member which slidably mounts to thebase arm 22 and extends from the interior surface 31 of the base arm 22at each end 35, 36. Each side arm 24 has an interior surface 40, a topsurface 41, an exterior surface 42, a bottom surface 43, a first end 44,and a second end 45. A channel 48 in the interior surface 40 of eachside arm 24 runs from the first end 44 to the second end 45. The secondend 45 of each side arm 24 has an opening 47 to the channel 48. Opening47 and the channel 48 of each side arm 24 are shaped to receive andcorrespond with the shape of the side rail 18 of the surgical table 10.

A protrusion 27 extends from the first end 44 of each side arm 24 whichare shaped to correspond to and be received within the recesses 26 inthe interior surface 31 of the base arm 22. The protrusions 27 of eachof the side arms 24 is received into the corresponding recesses 26 suchthat the side arms 24 are generally positioned 90 degrees from theinterior surface 31 of the base arm 22. This gives the bracket assembly20 a generally rectangular U-shape to correspond with the shapes of thetop or bottom ends 16, 17 of the surgical table 10.

The protrusions 27 are secured in the recesses 26 with a screw 25 whichextends through the slot 21 of the base arm 22, through a threadedopening (not shown) in the protrusions 27 of each side arm 24, and intothe channel 48 of each side arm 24. Preferably, the head of the screw 25can be positioned within the slot 21 and a shoulder 8 positioned withinthe slot 21 can act as a stop and prevent the head of the screw 25 frompassing through the slot 21. Each side arm 24 can be locked into a fixedposition by tightening the head of the screw 25 against the shoulder 8in the slot 21. The slot 21 is generally oval and is shaped and sized toreceive the screw 25 such that the screw 25 can slidably move along theslot 21 when the head of the screw 25 is not tightened against theshoulder 8. The position of the side arm 24 may be adjusted by movingthe screw 25 and side arm 24 along the slot 21, which adjusts thedistance between the side arms 24. The distance between the side arms 24can be adjusted to correspond to varying widths of the short side wall13 of the surgical table 10.

The bracket assembly 20 mounts to the surgical table 10 by positioningthe side rails 18 of the surgical table 10 in the channel 48 of eachside arm 24. The bracket assembly 20 is secured to the surgical table 10by adjusting the bracket locking members 49. In the preferredembodiment, each bracket locking member 49 comprises a screw 28 whichscrews into and through a threaded hole 29 in each side arm 24 such thatthe distal end of the screw 28 tightens against the side rails 18 of thesurgical table 10 when the side rails 18 are positioned within thechannel 48 of each side arm 24. In the preferred embodiment, the bracketassembly 20 is shaped to fit with a standard rectangular surgical tablebut other shapes are envisioned.

As seen in FIGS. 1-5 , the boom structure 50 comprises a boom arm 52 anda support leg 54. The boom arm 52 is preferably a straight, elongatedmember and has a first end 60 and a second end 61. A first guide member55 is connected to the first end 60 of the boom arm 52 and is positionedand shaped to receive the traction rope 57. In the preferred embodiment,the first guide member 55 is a pulley. The second end 61 of the boom arm52 is rotatably connected to a second guide member 56 with a hinge pin59. The second guide member 56 is fixably connected to the top end ofthe support leg 54. The hinge pin 59 allows the boom arm 52 to rotate ina plane that is coplanar or parallel to the longitudinal axis of thesupport leg 54. When the boom arm 52 extends to a desired angle from thesupport leg 54 a locking pin 58 can lock the boom arm 52 in thatposition in a manner well known in the art. Preferably, the desiredangle is slightly greater than 90 degrees. When the locking pin 58 isreleased, the boom arm 52 can rotate into a resting position adjacentand generally parallel to the support leg 54. The boom arm 52 may berotated to the resting position when the surgical traction system 1 isnot in use.

The support leg 54 comprises an upper member 62 and a lower member 64.The second guide member 56 is connected to a top end 65 of the uppermember 62 of the support leg 54. The second guide member 56 is shaped toreceive the traction rope 57. In the preferred embodiment, the secondguide member 56 is a pulley.

As seen in FIG. 1-6 , a first gear assembly 70 is positioned at thebottom end 66 of the upper member 62 of the support leg 54 and comprisesa first gear housing 71, a first gear system 72, and first gear handle73. The first gear system 72 mounts to the bottom end 66 of the uppermember 62 and is positioned within the first gear housing 71. The firstgear handle 73 connects to and activates the first gear system 72. Whenthe first gear handle 73 activates the first gear system 72, the uppermember 62 of the support leg 54 rotates about its longitudinal axisrelative to the lower member 64 of the support leg 54 as shown withrotational arrow 69. The rotation of the upper member 62 of the supportleg 54 along its longitudinal axis allows for adjustment of the positionof the first end 60 of the boom arm 52. In the preferred embodiment, thefirst gear system 72 is a worm gear wherein a screw gear 102 of thefirst gear system 72 extends from the first gear handle 73 and engages awheel gear 103 connected to the upper member 62 of the support leg 54.Activation of the first gear handle 73 rotates the screw gear 102 which,in turn, rotates the wheel gear 103 and causes the upper member 62 ofthe support leg 54 to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

A base housing 30 mounts to the bottom end 68 of the lower member 64 ofthe support leg 54. A second gear assembly 75 consisting of a secondgear system 77 and second gear handle 78 is housed within the basehousing 30. The second gear handle 78 connects to and operates thesecond gear system 77. When the second gear handle 78 is rotated andactivates the second gear system 77 of the second gear assembly 75, thelower member 64 of the support leg 54 moves vertically. The verticalmovement of the lower member 64 of the support leg 54 adjusts the heightof the support leg 54 which, in turn, adjusts the height of the boom arm52. In the preferred embodiment, the second gear system 77 is a straightgear wherein a wheel gear 104 is connected to the second gear handle 78and engages a rack gear 105 mounted on the lower member 64 of thesupport leg 54. Rotation of the second gear handle 78 rotates the wheelgear 104 causing vertical movement of the rack gear 105 and the lowermember 64 of the support leg 54.

The vertical position of the lower member 64 of the support leg 54 canbe locked into place by adjusting a second gear locking member 79. Inthe preferred embodiment, the second gear locking member 79 comprises athreaded member 74 which screws into and through a threaded hole 76 inthe base housing 30 such that the distal end of the threaded member 74tightens against the lower member 64 of the support leg 54 and holds itin place.

As seen in FIGS. 1-4, and 7 , a boom structure mount 90 connects thebase housing 30 to the bracket assembly 20. The boom structure mount 90comprises an upper plate 80 and a lower plate 85. The upper plate 80 isgenerally rectangular in shape and has an interior surface 81, a topsurface 82, an exterior surface 83, and a bottom surface 84. The bottomsurface 84 of the upper plate 80 forms a shoulder 92. The lower plate 85is generally rectangular in shape and has an interior surface 86, a topsurface 87, an exterior surface 88, and a bottom surface 89. The topsurface 87 of the lower plate 85 forms a shoulder 94 positioned oppositeof shoulder 92. In the preferred embodiment, the exterior surface 83 anda portion of the bottom surface 84 of the upper plate 80 engages andattaches to the base housing 30 with screws (not shown). Likewise, theexterior surface 88 and a portion of the top surface 87 of the lowerplate 85 engages and attaches to the base housing 30 with screws (notshown).

The upper plate 80 is positioned generally parallel to the lower plate85. Shoulder 92 of the upper plate 80 is shaped and sized to correspondto and be received in the channel 37 in the top surface 32 of the basearm 22 of the bracket assembly 20. Likewise the shoulder 94 of the lowerplate 85 is shaped and sized to correspond to and be received in thechannel 38 of the base arm 22. The boom structure 50 mounts to thebracket assembly 20 by positioning the shoulders 92, 94 of the upper andlower plates 80, 85 of the boom structure mount 90 in the channels 37,38 of the base arm 22 of the bracket assembly 20. In this manner, theshoulder 92, 94 can slide within the channels 37, 38 of the base arm andthereby adjust the position of boom structure 50.

The top surface 82 of the upper plate 80 contains a boom structurelocking member 95. The boom structure 50 locks into place by adjustingthe boom structure locking member 95. In the preferred embodiment, theboom structure locking member 95 comprises a threaded member 97 whichscrews into and through a threaded hole 98 in the top surface 82 of theupper plate 80 such that the distal end of the threaded member 97tightens against the top surface 32 of the base arm 22 of the bracketassembly 20 when the boom structure 50 is mounted to the bracketassembly 20.

As seen in FIGS. 8-13 , the tension adjustment device 100 comprises of aslide mounting member 110, a first friction plate 130, a first springsystem 131, a tension adjustment lever 122, a second friction plate 150,a second spring system 141, a release lever 140, a cam cleat 162, and astrain gauge system 164. The slide mounting member 110 comprises anupper housing 112, a lower housing 114, and a handle support member 115extending between the upper and lower housing members 112, 114. Theupper and lower housing members 112, 114 are slidably mounted onto theupper member 62 of support leg 54 such that the slide mounting member110 may move along the longitudinal axis of the support leg 54.

The upper housing 112 of the mounting member 110 forms an interiorcavity 106 in which is housed the first friction plate 130 and the firstspring system 131. A first opening 186 extends through an upper portion180 of the upper housing 112 from the top surface 181 of the upperhousing 112 to the cavity 106. A second opening 188 extends through alower portion 182 of the upper housing 112 from the bottom surface 183of the upper housing 112 to the cavity 106. The first and secondopenings 186, 188 are shaped and positioned to receive the upper member62 of the support leg 54 there through with minimal clearance.

The first friction plate 130 has generally a flat rectangular shape andhas a top surface 137, a bottom surface 138, a first end 139 positionednearest the tension adjustment lever 122, a second end 149 positionedfurthest from the tension adjustment lever 122, and an opening 135extending through the first friction plate 130 from the top surface 137to the bottom surface 138. In the preferred embodiment, the firstfriction plate 130 comprises of an upper plate 134 and a lower plate 136that are both generally the same shape with the upper plate 134 securedparallel to the lower plate 136 so that they form one congruent plate.The opening 135 of the first friction plate 130 is shaped to correspondwith the shape of the upper member 62 of the support leg 54 such thatthe support leg 54 is received therethrough with minimal clearance andthe edges of the opening 135 of the first friction plate 130 can contactthe upper member 62 of the support leg 54.

In the preferred embodiment, the first spring system 131 comprises afirst spring 132, biased against the top surface 137 of the first end139 of the first friction plate 130 and a second spring 133 biasedagainst the top surface 137 of the second end 149 of the first frictionplate 130. Each of the first and second springs 132, 133 extend from thecavity 106 into recesses 108 in the upper housing 112 to hold thesprings in place. Each of the first and second springs 132, 133 of thefirst spring system 131 can be one or more springs.

The tension adjustment lever 122 is an oblong member that is rotatablymounted to an upper end of the handle support member 115 with a hingepin 126. The handle support member 115 forms a handle cavity 175 andboth the shape of the handle support member 115 and the handle cavity175 correspond to the shape of the tension adjustment lever 122. Thetension adjustment lever 112 can rotate between a first position 200 asshown in FIG. 11 where it is fully extended from the handle cavity 175and a second position 205 as shown in FIG. 12 where it is generallyfully within the handle cavity 175. A shoulder 170 on the handle supportmember 115 positioned within the handle cavity 175 can act as a stoppreventing further rotation of the tension adjustment lever 122 into thehandle cavity 175.

A guide slot 129 is positioned at the lower end of the tensionadjustment lever 122. A guide pin 128 is connected to the handle supportmember 115 and is positioned so that it extends through the guide slot129. The guide slot 129 and the guide pin 128 act to guide the path ofthe tension adjustment lever as it rotates between the first and secondpositions 200, 205. The guide pin 128 can also act as a stop preventingfurther rotation of the tension adjustment lever 122 out of the handlecavity 175.

As seen in FIGS. 11 and 12 , a camming surface 124 is positioned at theupper end of the tension adjustment lever 122 and bears against thebottom surface 138 of the first end 139 of the first friction plate 130.When the tension adjustment lever 122 is activated the lower end of thetension adjustment lever 122 is rotated towards the upper member 62 ofthe support leg 54 causing the camming surface 124 to rotate upwards andpush against the bottom surface 138 of the first end 139 of the firstfriction plate 130. This, in turn, causes movement of the first end 139of the first friction plate 130 in an upward direction and causesfrictional contact between the edges of the opening 135 in the firstfriction plate 130 and the upper member 62 of the support leg 54. Thisfrictional contact causes the first friction plate 130 to grip the uppermember 62 of the support leg 54 such that further rotation of thetension adjustment lever 122 and camming surface 124 causes movement ofthe tension adjustment device 100 in a downward direction along thelongitudinal axis of the upper member 62 of the support leg 54 where thefirst friction plate 130 remains in a fixed position on the support leg54. This downward movement of the tension adjustment devices 100compresses the first and second springs 132, 133 as shown in FIG. 12 .

When the tension adjustment lever 122 is released the lower end of thetension adjustment lever 122 rotates away from the upper member 62 ofthe support leg 54 and the camming surface rotates downward to thereleased position as shown in FIG. 11 . The biasing force on the topside 137 of the first friction plate 130 by the first spring system 131causes the first friction plate 130 to also move in a downwarddirection.

Each time the tension adjustment lever 122 of the first handle 120 isactivated the tension adjustment device 100 moves a short distance in adownward direction along the longitudinal axis of the upper member 62 ofthe support leg 54. This incremental movement of the tension adjustmentdevice 100 allows for incremental adjustments to the position of thetension adjustment device 100 on the support leg 54 and for incrementaladjustments to the tension in the traction rope 57.

As seen in FIGS. 9-13 , the lower housing 114 of the mounting member 110of the tension adjustment device 100 forms a cavity 107 which houses thesecond friction plate 150 and second spring system 141. A first opening196 extends through an upper portion 190 of the lower housing 114 fromthe top surface 191 of the lower housing 114 to the cavity 107. A secondopening 198 extends through a lower portion 192 of the lower housing 114from the bottom surface 193 of the lower housing 114 to the cavity 107.The first and second openings 196, 198 are sized and positioned toreceive therethrough the upper member 62 of the support leg 54 withminimal clearance. The second friction plate 150 has generally a flatrectangular shape and has a top surface 157, a bottom surface 158, afirst end 159 positioned nearest the tension adjustment lever 122, asecond end 161 positioned furthest from the tension adjustment lever122, and an opening 155. The opening 155 of the second friction plate150 is shaped to correspond with the shape of the upper member 62 of thesupport leg 54 such that the support leg 54 is received therethroughwith minimal clearance and the edges of the opening 155 of the secondfriction plate 150 can contact the upper member 62 of the support leg54.

In the preferred embodiment, the second spring system 141 comprises afirst spring 142 biased against the top surface 157 of the first end 159of the second friction plate 150 and a second spring 143 biased againstthe top surface 157 of the second end 161 of the second friction plate150. Each of the top ends of the first and second springs 142, 143 ofthe second spring system 141 are positioned in recesses 109 in the upperportion 190 of the second housing 114 to hold the springs 142, 143 inplace. Each of the first and second springs 142, 143 of the secondspring system 141 can be one or more springs.

In the preferred embodiment, the bottom wall 174 of the cavity 107 ispositioned at an angle allowing the second friction plate 150 to tiltwithin the cavity 107 with respect to the support leg 54. Preferably,the top wall 172 of the cavity 107 is also positioned at an anglecausing the recess 109 receiving the first spring 142 to be positionedlower than the recess 109 receiving the second spring 143. Thepositioning of the recesses 109 and biasing force of the first andsecond springs 142, 143 of the second spring system 141 causes thesecond friction plate 150 to tilt within the cavity 107 such that thefirst end 159 of the second friction plate 150 is lower than the secondend 161 of the second friction plate 150. The tilting of the secondfriction plate 150 causes the edges of the opening 155 in the secondfriction plate 150 to come into frictional contact with the support leg54. In this manner, the second friction plate 150 grips the support leg54 and prevents movement of the tension adjustment devise 100 when thetension adjustment lever 122 is not activated and is resting in itsfirst position 200.

When the tension adjustment lever 122 of the first handle 120 isactivated, the force created by the camming surface 124 against thefirst friction plate 130 is sufficient to overcome the frictional forcecreated between the second friction plate 150 and the support leg 54. Inthis manner, the tension adjustment device 100 can move vertically downthe longitudinal axis of the upper member 62 of the support leg 54.

A release lever 140 which is a generally flat and elongated memberextends out of the cavity 107 from the first end 159 of the secondfriction plate 150. Activation of the release lever 140 (an upwardmovement) moves the first end 159 of the second friction plate 150 in anupward direction such that the second friction plate 150 pushes againstand compresses the first and second springs 142, 143 of the secondspring system 141. This, in turn, causes the second friction plate 150to reduce frictional contact with the support leg 54. The reduction infrictional contact between the second friction plate 150 and the supportleg 54 allows the tension adjustment device 100 to move freely along thelongitudinal axis of the support leg 54.

As seen in FIGS. 8-13 , the cam cleat 162 mounts to the strain gauge 164of the tension adjustment device 100 and is positioned to receive thetraction rope 57. However, it is anticipated that other traction ropesecuring mechanisms known in the art may be used. The cam cleat 162secures the traction rope 57 to the tension adjustment device 100 suchthat the movement of the tension adjustment device 100 along thelongitudinal axis of the upper member 62 of the support leg 54 adjuststhe tension in the traction rope 57. Each time the first handle 120 ofthe tension adjustment device 100 is activated such that the tensionadjustment device 100 moves in a downward direction along thelongitudinal axis of the support leg 54, the tension in the tension rope57 increases. When the release lever 140 of the tension adjustmentdevice 100 is activated allowing the tension adjustment device 100 tomove in an upward direction on the support leg 54, the tension in thetension rope 57 decreases.

The strain gauge system 164 of the tension adjustment device 100 mountsto the upper housing 112 of the slide mounting member 110 of the tensionadjustment device 100. In the preferred embodiment, the strain gaugesystem 164 consists of a strain gauge 165, a readable display 166, acontroller 168, and a power supply 169. The strain gauge system 164 iswell known in the art and provides an easily readable display 166showing the tension measured by the strain gauge 165. In the preferredembodiment, the readable display 166 is a digital display and the powersupply 169 is a battery.

As seen in FIGS. 1-5 , the traction rope 57 is mounted on the boomstructure 50 and is long enough to and positioned to extend from thesurgery patient (not shown) positioned on the surgical table 10 at thefirst end 7 through the first guide member 55 connected to the first end60 the boom arm 52, through the second guide member 56 mounted on thesupport leg 54, and through the cam cleat 162. The second end 9 of thetraction rope 57 is a free end and allows the rope to be pulled throughthe first and second guide members 55, 56 and the cam cleat 162. A hook5 is attached to the traction rope 57 at the first end 7 of the tractionrope 57 and is connected to the surgery patient (not pictured)positioned on the surgical table 10. When the tension rope 57 is mountedon the boom structure 50 and secured to the cam cleat 162 as describedherein, movement of the tension adjustment device 100 in a downwarddirection along the longitudinal axis of the support leg 54 increasesthe tension in the traction rope 57. This in turn causes the hook 5 ofthe traction rope 57 to pull on the surgery patient (not pictured) atthe point of connection to the hook 5.

Operation of the surgical traction system 1 can be described in thefollowing manner:

The tension adjustment device 100 is mounted to the upper member 62 ofthe support leg 54 of the boom structure 50. The bracket assembly 20 ismounted to the surgical table 10 by positioning the side rails 18 of thesurgical table in the channels 48 of each side arm 24 of the bracketassembly 20. The distance between each side arm 24 of the bracketassembly 20 is adjusted by sliding the screws 25 and the side arms 24along the slots 21 of the base arm 22. The screws 25 of the bracketassembly 20 are tightened against the shoulder 8 positioned within theslot 21 to lock the side arms 24 into a fixed position on the base arm22. The bracket locking member 49 of the bracket assembly 20 istightened to lock the bracket assembly 20 onto the surgical table 10.The boom structure 50 is mounted to the bracket assembly 20 by mountingthe boom structure mount 90 onto the base arm 22 of the bracket assembly20. The boom structure locking member 95 of the boom structure mount 90is tightened to secure the boom structure 50 onto the bracket assembly20.

The boom arm 52 of the boom structure 50 is rotated into an extendedposition generally slightly greater than 90 degrees from the support leg54 of the boom structure 50 and locked into that position with thelocking pin 58. The traction rope 57 mounts to the boom structure 50 bypositioning the traction rope 57 through the first and second guidemembers 55, 56 and securing the traction rope 57 in the cam cleat 162 ofthe tension adjustment device 100. The hook 5 located at the first end 7of the traction rope 57 is hooked to the surgical patient (notpictured).

The position of the first end 60 of the boom arm 52 is adjusted byengaging the first gear handle 73 of the first gear system 70 such thatthe upper member 62 of the support leg 54 rotates around thelongitudinal axis of the support leg 54. The height of the boomstructure 50 is adjusted by engaging the second gear handle 78 of thesecond gear system 75 such that the support leg 54 moves along itslongitudinal axis.

The tension adjustment lever 122 of the tension adjustment device 100 isactivated to move the tension adjustment device 100 down the support leg54 of the boom structure 50 in order to increase tension in the tractionrope 57. Repeated activation of the tension adjustment lever 122increases the tension in the tension rope 57 until the desired tensionis achieved. The release lever 140 holds the tension adjustment device100 in a fixed position on the support leg 54 and maintains tension inthe traction rope 57 when the tension adjustment lever 122 is notactivated. The strain gauge 165 measures the tension in the tension rope57 and the tension is displayed in the strain gauge 165.

When the tension adjustment lever 122 is not activated, the releaselever 140 can be activated to allow the tension adjustment devise 100 tofreely move on the support leg 54 and release the tension in thetraction rope 57.

Although the present invention has been described with reference tospecific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in alimiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, aswell as alternative embodiments of the invention will become apparent topersons skilled in the art upon the reference to the above-descriptionof the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appendedclaims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A surgical traction system comprising: a surgical tablehaving a top surface for a positioning of a surgery patient; a bracketassembly mounted to said side rail; a boom structure mounted to saidsurgical table, said boom structure comprising a support leg and a boomarm connected to said support leg; a traction rope mounted on said boomstructure; and a tension adjustment device mounted to said support legof said boom structure wherein said tension adjustment device can attachto said traction rope and adjust the tension in said traction rope. 2.The surgical traction system of claim 1 further comprises: a bracketassembly mounted to said surgical table; and wherein said boom structureis mounted to said bracket assembly.
 3. The surgical traction system ofclaim 1 wherein said surgical table is rectangular and furthercomprises: two long sides; two short sides; a sidewall extending fromthe top surface along each long side; side rails extending outwards fromthe side wall along each long side; wherein said bracket assembly isshaped to mount to said surgical table and comprises: a base armpositioned adjacent a short side of said surgical table; and two sidearms extending from said base arm wherein one side arm is mounted toeach of said side rails.
 4. The surgical traction system of claim 3wherein: said side arms slidably mount to said base arm; the position ofsaid side arms are adjustable to the size of said short side of saidsurgical table; and said side arms are lockable on said base.
 5. Thesurgical traction system of claim 1 wherein: said support leg ismoveable along its longitudinal axis; and at least a first portion ofsaid support leg is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of said supportleg.
 6. The surgical traction system of claim 1 further comprising: afirst guide member positioned on said support leg; a second guide memberpositioned on said boom arm; and wherein said first and second guidemembers are positioned to receive said traction rope.
 7. The surgicaltraction system of claim 1 wherein said first and second guide membersare pulleys.
 8. The surgical traction system of claim 1 wherein saidboom arm is rotatably connected to said support leg and is lockable in arotated position at an angle from said support leg.
 9. The surgicaltraction system of claim 1 wherein said tension adjustment devicecomprises: a slide mounting member slidably mounted to said support leg;an upper cavity of said slide mounting member; a first friction plate infrictional contact with said support leg positioned within said uppercavity; a tension adjustment lever rotatably connected to said slidemounting member; a camming surface of said tension adjustment leverbearing against said first friction plate; wherein rotation of saidtension adjustment lever causes the camming surface to move saidfriction plate such that said friction plate comes into increasedfrictional contact with said support leg; and a traction rope connectionmember for connection with said traction rope.
 10. The surgical tractionsystem of claim 9 wherein said traction rope connection member is a camcleat.
 11. The surgical traction system of claim 9 wherein said tensionadjustment device further comprises at least one spring biasing saidfirst frictional plate against said camming surface of said tensionadjustment lever.
 12. The surgical traction system of claim 9 whereinsaid tension adjustment device further comprises: a strain gaugeassociated with said traction rope connection member capable ofmeasuring the tension in said traction rope.
 13. The surgical tractionsystem of claim 9 wherein said tension adjustment device furthercomprises: a lower cavity of said slide mounting member; a secondfriction plate in frictional contact with said support leg positionedwithin said lower cavity; at least one spring biasing said secondfriction plate into frictional contact with said support leg; and arelease lever extending from said second friction plate wherein movementof said release lever reduces the frictional contact between said secondfriction plate and said support leg.
 14. A surgical traction systemcomprising: a bracket assembly capable of mounting to a surgical table;a boom structure mounted to said bracket said boom structure comprisinga support leg and boom arm connected to said support leg; a tractionrope mounted on said boom structure; a tension adjustment device mountedto and slidable on said support leg; and wherein said tension adjustmentdevice is attachable to said traction rope and capable of adjusting thetension of said tension rope.
 15. The surgical traction system of claim14 wherein: said bracket assembly has a generally rectangular U shapewith a base arm and two side arms.
 16. The surgical traction system ofclaim 15 wherein: said two side arms slidably mount to said base arm; aposition of said side arms are capable of being adjusted to correspondwith a width of an end of a surgical table; and said side arms arelockable on said base arm.
 17. The surgical traction system of claim 14wherein at least a first portion of said support leg is rotatable arounda longitudinal axis of said support leg.
 18. The surgical tractionsystem of claim 14 wherein said support leg is moveable in a directionalong its longitudinal axis.
 19. The surgical traction system of claim14 wherein: said boom arm is rotatably connected to said support leg;and said boom arm is lockable in a rotated position when said boom armis extended at an angle from said support leg.
 20. The surgical tractionsystem of claim 14 wherein said tension adjustment device is lockable onsaid support leg.
 21. The surgical traction system of claim 20 whereinsaid tension adjustment device further comprises: a slide mountingmember slidably mounted on said support leg; a tension adjustment leverconnected to said slide mounting member; and wherein activation of saidtension adjustment lever causes movement of said tension adjustmentdevice along said support leg and adjustment of tension in said tractionrope.
 22. The surgical traction system of claim 20 wherein said tensionadjustment device further comprises: a release lever; and whereinactivation of said release lever allows said tension adjustment deviceto slide freely on said support leg.
 23. Method of adjusting traction ina surgical traction system comprises the steps of: mounting a boomstructure to a surgical table wherein said boom structure comprises asupport leg and a boom arm; mounting a traction rope on said boomstructure; mounting a tension adjustment device to said support leg;attaching said traction rope to said tension adjustment device; movingsaid tension adjustment device on said support leg; and adjustingtension in said traction rope.
 24. The method of claim 23 furthercomprises the steps of: locking said tension adjustment device in alocked positioned on said support leg.
 25. The method of claim 24further comprises the steps of: releasing said tension adjustment devicefrom said locked position.
 26. The method of claim 24 further comprisesthe steps of: moving an activation member of said tension adjustmentdevice; and wherein said movement of said activation member causes saidmoving of said tension adjustment device along said support leg.
 27. Themethod of claim 24 further comprises the steps of: rotating said boomarm with respect to said support leg; moving said support leg on itslongitudinal axis; and rotating at least a portion of said support legaround its longitudinal axis.
 28. The method of claim 24 furthercomprises the steps of: measuring said tension in said traction ropewith a strain gauge; and displaying the measurement of said tension insaid traction rope.
 29. Method of claim 24 further comprises the stepof: mounting a mounting bracket to an end of a surgical table; andwherein said mounting bracket comprises: a base member; a first arm; anda second arm.
 30. The method of claim 24 further comprises the steps of:mounting said boom structure to said mounting bracket. slidably mountingsaid first and second arms to said base member; adjusting said first andsecond arms to correspond to the width of an end of said surgical table;and locking said first and second arms in a locked position on said basemember.